Reviews

Candles

In for some good old scare-fest? Candles might be right up your alley. This scary, atmospheric game is still in its initial release but so far, it's gaining a lot of interest in the indie gaming community. Its dark storyline and moody graphics are enough to keep you on the edge of your seat as you play. Developed by Lasse Westmark Nielsen, the game is available for free download on his blog. The game is pretty intense so you might want to brace yourself if you have a knack for scaring yourself silly. There are still bugs here and there but the entire game is playable from start to finish. If you love Amnesia and interested in a similar type of gameplay, you'll certainly enjoy Candles. Give it a go.

Frozzd

Winner of the YoYo Games Winter Competition, Frozzd, is a cute little 2D platformer that certainly has its charm. The game itself is similar to Super Mario Galaxy, so if you are a fan of that then you might enjoy this one. Some even say that this one packs more fun than the one with the mustachioed plumber. The game was created by Jesse Venbrux, mastermind of such celebrated freeware games like the Karoshi Series. Hence, you can be sure to expect plenty of fun and good times ahead. Frozzd was done entirely on Gamemaker 7 and contains a typical storyline with some very cool, unique elements. Give the game a download from Jesse Venbrux's official page or right here on Frostclick. You won't regret it.

The Laureates: No Kontrol

Looking for a good, retro indie rock group these days is like playing a game of hit or miss. Sometimes, you stumble upon a really cool band whose music becomes an instant favorite the first time you hear it. On the other hand, there are instances when you find a band that simply sticks to you for all the wrong reasons. Luckily, The Laureates is NOT part of the latter. The group has been around since 2005 and No Kontrol is the third release from these lo-fi rockers. The album is filled with a mix of punk, indie, alternative, lo-fi 80s/90s inspired rock that calls to mind The Replacements, Pixies and most 90s underground rockers. Definitely an awesome album worth every bit of space on your drive. Check it out.

Glum Buster

If you are looking for a nice little puzzle platformer to pass the time, then Glum Buster is your best bet. The game is rather odd but its oddity is what makes it interesting in the first place. The weird thing is that there's hardly any explanation or instructions given in the game. Hence, players are forced to experiment and explore the various areas surrounding them. Glum Buster was created by Cosmind and took four years in the making using the Game Maker machine. However, it seems quite worth it. The gameplay is fun and quite enjoyable. Although it is a rather unusual platformer, it is definitely a cool game to check out. Best of all, it's offered absolutely free. Give a try.

Frontregen: Frontregen

Frontregen is an indie Austrian band that create an eclectic pop punk indie rock sound. Their sound is characteristic of female sweet sounding vocals, a mix of alternative rock/pop beats and indie sensibilities. This self-titled album is a first for the group. It was released back in December 2010 and so far it's showcasing a lot of promise for this 5 piece crew. The entire album resonates with passion and energy; skillfully balancing a hard rock punk edge with that of sweet, pop folkish vocals. It's certainly worth checking out if you are a fan of these genres on their own.

Zxing Barcode Scanner

If you ever wanted one of those fancy barcode scanners, then you might want to give this application a download. This amazing new scanner works with any of your Android gadget as long as it has a camera that acts as the scanner itself. The program was developed by Zxing (Zebra Crossing) and can be used for scanning various barcodes from books, CDs, and even QR codes for downloading apps. Although it might seem like something only techies might only go gaga for, it's a fun way to learn more information about the products you scan. This Zxing Barcode Scanner is available for free download so what are you waiting for? Give the application a try.

The Tunnel

In 2007 the New South Wales government suddenly scrapped a plan to utilise the water in the disused underground train tunnels beneath Sydney. In 2008, chasing rumours of a government cover-up and urban legends surrounding the sudden backflip, investigative journalist Natasha Warner led a crew of four into the underground labyrinth. They went down into the tunnels looking for a story Ôø? until the story found them. This is the film of their harrowing ordeal. With unprecedented access to the recently declassified tapes they shot in the claustrophobic subway tunnels, as well as a series of candid interviews with the survivors, we come face to face with the terrifying truth.

Bad Fate: Olympic City

Fairly new in the music business, Bad Fate, releases a debut record filled with raw emotions, noise and a good amount of energy to keep everyone beaming happy. Production values might not be top notch on this one but it certainly has a rawness that is fresh and interesting. Olympic City comes with seven noisy grunge tracks juxtaposed with beautiful feminine shouty vocals (occasional male vocals too). Think Chrissy Hynde if she decided to scream her way through most of their songs. Check out this indie pop grunge sound by downloading the album. It's available for free in Jamendo.